The cover, plot, and setting drew me in. I received this story from Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.

Blind since birth, Abbey Morrison is confident and proficient in her world, the only world she’s ever known. Despite the family and friendships she has in the small fishing village, and her father’s unfailing love, she is still lonely.

Disfigured and scarred from war injuries, Irish immigrant Jeremy McKetcheon, finds work and solitude in self-isolation as a lighthouse keeper on a lonely island. His only companion is a loyal dog and the periodic visits of the kindly mail carrier, Morrison, from the mainland, bringing him supplies and news.

A tragedy brings Abbey to Jeremy’s isolated island. Soon, romance blooms between the two lonely hearts.

Because this is a historical novel, the author did spend a fair bit of time describing food, activities, and period details, thus creating a developed and believable setting, even if the factual timeline was off a little bit. It’s fictions and she is entitled to stretch dates a small amount for the story.

I enjoyed the language of the Irishman, Jeremy. It felt true to his heritage and made him more dimensional. Likewise with his hobby of carving wood figures. I wish Abbey had more depth to her. She seemed a little too perfect, with her only flaw in that sometimes she made a poor choice.

The pacing, however, was awkward in many places. Sometimes it felt jerky or rushed. Characters spanned large periods of time within the same paragraph, leaving a feeling of leaping forward and missing things. A smooth transition between time could have eliminated this.

The reprobates were believable and thoroughly unlikable, which was the intention. While Abbey didn’t always behave in the wisest of ways, the evil behaviors of the bad guys certainly came across as genuine.

Abbey’s Tale is a good story. It could have been better with more development of Abbey Morrison and better pacing overall and more development between scenes.

By the end of chapter three, I’d been fully drawn into the powerful and emotional story of Corinne and Stephen. And Michael. Patricia Bond’s attention to detail in the setting took me back to my fondest memories of the Great Lake lakeshore. The authenticity of a period as timeless as lighthouses themselves wove through the story like a silken ribbon with its many subtle reminders.

The lake, unnamed throughout the story, was indeed a familiar friend. To Corinne, she was a real thing, an enemy. One she’d already lost one man to and vowed to not lose another. The conflicting views both Corinne and Stephen have of Michael’s appearances are gripping, holding the reader to wonder why Michael remains when clearly his presence keeps Corinne and Stephen apart. She because of her mourning and grief and he because no one can compete against a ghost.
A few times I found myself choked up as the story transported me back to a time, place and situation vividly shown in black and white. I came alongside Corinne as she stepped from the pages and into the cold Great Lakes air. I yearned for a happy solution for this open, loving couple as a light keeper yearns for the first signs of spring after a long, cold winter.
The surprise twists regarding the mystery of Michael’s death sheds fresh light and hope for Corinne and Stephen, if only it isn’t too late. I shant spoil the ending. It is worth the read to get there.
My only regret is this story ended far too soon. I would love to have seen this expanded into a much longer saga.